Bo Nix’s rough night against the Seattle Seahawks has already produced a new label, and Colin Cowherd is the one who put it out there.
The Denver Broncos quarterback had a difficult Thursday night in which nothing downfield really opened up. No pass went more than eight yards past the line of scrimmage, he didn’t throw a touchdown, and he finished with 17 completions on 27 attempts for 107 yards. His average sat under four yards per pass attempt, and it was another tough outing in the 2026 campaign.
Cowherd seized on that style of play and came up with “Bo’ Short of the Sticks’ Nix” while calling out the constant checkdowns and the lack of consistent aggression as a passer. “The Broncos offense can be measured in inches,” Cowherd joked during his radio broadcast. He also pointed out that opposing defensive coordinators have figured out how to deal with Nix’s conservative approach.
The criticism wasn’t limited to Cowherd. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick also ripped Nix’s performance, saying his play was disrespectful to the quarterback position.
For Denver, the result came in a season that has still been good overall. The Broncos are 4-2 after a demanding opening stretch that included wins over the Jaguars, Rams, Chargers, and Seahawks, with losses to the undefeated Chiefs and 49ers.
Thursday’s game was notable for another reason, too: it was the first time all season Nix failed to throw a touchdown pass. His 107-yard night was the second-lowest passing total of his career, and by the end of it, it stood as the worst performance he has had this season.
For now, the Broncos’ ceiling seems tied directly to how far Nix can push the ball. Right now, that doesn’t look like very far.
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